Bath Time for Emperor Han
A consistent grooming routine is one of the best ways to keep pets healthy, comfortable, and looking their very best. My dogs are brushed daily and checked carefully for ticks and fleas, and they get regular baths every couple of weeks.
I actually love to do this task myself when I am home, but since I was away on a business trip, Carlos was happy to do the job. When bathing any pet, I always recommend using lukewarm water and a gentle shampoo formulated specifically for animals.
Here are a few photos of my handsome Chow Chow Emperor Han getting bathed, enjoy!
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- Emperor Han is ready for a good summertime bath. My dogs are outdoors every day, so it is important to bathe them regularly.
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- My Chows get washed in the stable. This horse shower stall is located at one end. It is a large stall with padded lower walls for animal safety. The faucets are housed in a cabinet on the right to keep them out of the way. The boom sprayer is very flexible and can swivel around easily.
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- Carlos gathers everything he needs first, so there is no scrambling during the process. Here he has shampoo, the pet dryer, and a stack of towels.
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- Carlos starts with wetting Han’s coat. My dogs are very accustomed to being bathed. They’ve had many baths, but always keep an eye on any dog who is getting washed – just in case they want to make a quick move.
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- Once he feels the lukewarm water, Han starts to relax. Han is such a good boy.
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- When the coat is thoroughly wet, Carlos applies the shampoo specifically formulated for pets. Carlos also gives Han a little massage and feels for anything unusual that could have gotten in the coat.
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- Han loves the attention and stays still the entire time.
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- And don’t forget the feet. Carlos makes sure to clean the feet, legs and underneath where dirt can accumulate.
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- After applying the shampoo and letting it soak into the coat a few minutes, Carlos rinses well with lukewarm water. It is very important to get all the shampoo out – a rule of thumb is to keep rinsing until there are no visible bubbles on the coat – and then rinse a little more.
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- The water needs to penetrate all the layers of the dog’s heavy coat.
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- Work from the top down to the legs. This is also a good time to check for any skin abnormalities. Emperor Han’s skin and coat are in perfect condition.
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- Here he is all rinsed and waiting for his towel.
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- Carlos dries Han very, very well. Here he is getting wiped down with a large terry towel. Train the dog to shake on command, so it can shake when the towel is there and no one gets wet in the process.
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- Carlos also towel dries Han’s underside.
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- The benefit of using a hair dryer specifically for pets is that it is not really drying the dog by heat so much as blasting the water out of the fur. The powerful dryer also blows loose fur from their undercoat which means less shedding later.
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- Drying the coat completely is crucial. Otherwise, the hair closest to the skin will pack down, retain dirt and moisture, and cause skin irritations.
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- Carlos begins on the top and works his way down to the feet.
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- He uses a brush as he goes, getting all the loose, dead hair out.
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- Carlos dries the feet thoroughly, including in between the dog’s pads. Never use high heat on a dog’s coat. Dogs are much more sensitive to external heat than humans are and have a far more difficult time dissipating heat.
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- Drying is important especially in any small folds such as behind the ears.
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- Han enjoys his “spa” treatments.
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- According to the breed standard, Chows must have a lovely thick mane, with small rounded ears, giving it the appearance of a lion. A clean, well-maintained coat highlights the breed’s signature thick coat. Han is such a handsome boy.
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- Han looks great. A well-bathed and groomed Chow Chow is not only strikingly beautiful but also healthier and more comfortable. One dog down and four more to go!
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